Banana and Manure Waste on Growth, Reproduction and Vermicompost of Eisenia foetida
Tafesse Kibatu, Beniam Tilahun, Arega Alemayehu
Abstract
The most promising earthworm species used for vermicomposting are Eisenia foetida due to tolerance to large range of moisture levels and temperature. These earthworms were grown in different ratio of banana and cow manure wastes and number of cocoon, number of adults worms, weight gain, total worm population and vermicompost amount were examined to assess the effect of cow manure and banana pseudo mix on growth, reproduction and vermicomposting ability of E. foetida. Earthworm growth and reproduction showed significant differences in response to feed treatments. In all parameters, the highest record was achieved when the amount of cow dung is 60% or more in the feed mix.